Begonia plant named ‘Carneval’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Carneval’, characterized by its compact and freely branching plant habit; double red and yellow bi-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Carneval’.

The new Begonia was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Glandorf, Germany, in November, 1997, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Juta’, notpatented. The new Begonia was observed as a single plant in a group offlowering plants of the parent cultivar. The selection of this plant wasbased on its unique flower coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by leaf and terminal cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany, has shown thatthe unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Carneval’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Carneval’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Carneval’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

1. Compact and freely branching plant habit.

2. Double red and yellow bi-colored flowers.

3. Excellent postproduction longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conduction by the Inventor in Glandorf,Germany, plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the parentcultivar Juta primarily in flower color. Plants of the new Begonia havered and yellow bi-colored petals with the red coloration on about theouter half of the petals whereas plants of the cultivar Juta haveyellow-colored petals with a thin red-colored margin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Begonia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a top perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Carneval’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of theupper surfaces of typical developing flowers; and the photograph at thebottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of the lower surfaces oftypical developing flowers of ‘Carneval’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Glandorf, Germany, undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Average day and nighttemperatures were 20° C. during the first three to four weeks thenlowered to an average day and night temperature of 19° C. untilflowering. Four weeks after planting in 13-cm containers, one week oflong nyctoperiods were given followed by short nyctoperiods of eighthours. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants.

Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Carneval.

Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemaliscultivar Juta, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to develop roots.—About 28 days with soil temperatures of 20° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched; plants typically donot form tubers.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Compact; upright potted plant, inverted triangle; freelybranching with good stem and stem base strength. Flowers are double andabundant. Plants flower continuously.

Growth habit.—Moderate growth rate, vigorous. Suitable for 11 to 15-cmcontainers. Under optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usuallyabout 4 months are required to produce proportional 13-cm potted plantsfrom terminal cuttings. Vegetative shoots are formed at basal nodes andflowering shoots are formed at upper nodes.

Plant height.—About 24 cm.

Plant width.—About 26 cm.

Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length: About 15 cm. Width:About 11.5 cm. Shape: Asymmetrical, more or less reniform. Apex:Acuminate. Base: Cordate. Margin: Doubly serrate. Texture: Glabrous.Petiole length: About 5.5 cm. Color: Young leaves, upper surface: 147A.Young leaves, lower surface: 148C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 148C, strongly overlain with184B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 148C. Petiole: 179A to 179B.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Double flowers with numerous tepals arranged inaxillary cymes. Usually 4 to 6 flowers per cyme. Many cymes in flowersimultaneously. Flowering continuous.

Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower year around regardless ofnyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and more abundantly frommid-February until November in the Northern Hemisphere.

Flowers.—Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 5 cm. Depth (height): About 3cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.75 cm. Diameter: About 1.25 cm. Color:145C.

Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Rounded flabellate, broad; apex,rounded. Margin: Entire. Quantity per flower: Usually about 25 perflower. Size: Outer tepals: Length: About 2.75 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm.Inner tepals: Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Texture:Smooth, satiny, glabrous. Color: When opening: Apex to about mid-sectionof tepal, 43A; base to about mid-section of tepal, 7D; colors bleedtogether. Fully opened, upper surface: Apex to about mid-section oftepal, 43A to 43B; base to about mid-section of tepal, 7B; colors bleedtogether. Fully opened, lower surface: Apex to about mid-section oftepal, 43B to 43C to 43D; base to about mid-section of tepal, 6D; colorsbleed together.

Flower bracts.—Arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape: Broadly cordate; apex,apiculate. Margin: Entire. Color, both surfaces: 145B.

Peduncles.—Angle: Erect to bent. Length: About 5.5 cm. Texture:Glabrous. Color: 146D with anthocyanin blush.

Pedicels.—Angle: Bent. Length: About 2.5 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:145C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None observed.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed as reproductive organs arenot formed.

Postproduction longevity:

Individual flowers.—Generally about 2 to 3 weeks.

Whole plants.—About 6 weeks under interior conditions.

Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Begonia has notbeen observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named‘Carneval’,